Goodman, Giunchigliani advance to general election in Las Vegas mayor’s race

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Las Vegas mayoral candidates Carolyn Goodman and Chris Giunchigliani will square off during the June 7 general election.

With all 356 precincts reporting April 5, Goodman, the wife of current mayor Oscar Goodman, snagged 37 percent of the vote. Giunchigliani, a Clark County commissioner, received 17 percent, defeating fellow county commissioner Larry Brown by only 15 votes for second place. businessman Victor Chaltiel rounded out the top finishers at 14 percent.

There were 18 candidates.

Incumbent Mayor Goodman, who has served the city for 12 years, will retire because of term limits.

Voter turnout almost reached 22 percent, a rarity for a municipal election. The city clerk’s office had predicted a relatively high turnout for the mayor’s race.

City Council incumbents Lois Tarkanian and Ricki Y. Barlow won re-election in their respective ward races outright with more than 70 percent of votes each. According to city election officials, if one candidate receives more than a majority of votes cast in that election, he will be declared the winner and there will be no general election.

In the Ward 3 race, candidates Adriana Martinez, a City Council liaison, and Bob Coffin, a former state senator, will battle during June’s general election. Coffin had 34 percent compared to Martinez’s 33 percent. Candidate Steve Evans came in third place at 22 percent.

Council seats are a four-year term.

All three of the city’s Municipal Court judge races were close.

Department 2 candidates Sonny Bonaventure and Susan Roger, wife of District Attorney David Roger, received 30 percent and 38 percent, respectively, and will head to the general election.

In the Department 3 race, incumbent Judge George Assad received 28 percent of the vote. He will face challenger Heidi Almase, who received 19 percent.

In the Department 5 race, incumbent Judge Cedric Kerns edged out challenger Bruce Gale with 51 percent of the vote.

Municipal Court judges serve a six-year term.

According to county election officials, a candidate has three business days following the canvass of an election by the City Council to request a recount. If there is a tie and no one asks for a recount, or if the tie remains following a recount, the winner is determined by lot, which in Nevada traditionally means the candidates draw for the higher card.

The Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to canvass its elections this week.

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.